An 81-year-old indigenous man from Pampanga has completed the government’s Alternative Learning System (ALS), becoming the oldest among nearly 3,000 graduates in the province and underscoring efforts to expand access to education for marginalized communities.

Eduardo Saplala, an Aeta from Barangay Camias in Porac town, graduated from ALS on January 20, 2026 making him the oldest of the 2,934 ALS passers in Pampanga, officials said. Local authorities said his completion of the program was significant in helping indigenous peoples better understand and protect their rights.

“Para makadagdag kaalaman. Kaya gusto kong madagdagan kaalaman ko para ’yung ibang tao, kahit mamatay na ako, hindi nila interisan ang karapatan kong maiwan sa pamilya ko,” Saplala said.

Many indigenous residents are vulnerable to exploitation due to limited access to formal education, officials said, adding that ALS provides a pathway for learners who were unable to complete basic schooling.

The graduation ceremony also included ALS passers who are beneficiaries of the Department of Labor and Employment’s Government Internship Program (GIP). DOLE said ALS graduates have improved chances to continue their studies or secure better employment.

To support ALS learners, 390 GIP beneficiaries served as community teachers and assisted Kapampangans enrolled in the program. Several of them have since been absorbed by government offices and institutions where they previously worked, including the provincial government of Pampanga.

“This is a stepping stone po namin para ma-fulfill po ang profession po namin. Graduate po ako ng educ, so ’yung experience ko po sa GIP parang mas natutulungan po ako na lalong maging mas prepared dun sa profession po na napili ko,” Gerald Salazar, a GIP beneficiary, said.

Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda congratulated the graduates, saying the diplomas they earned would help change how others view their educational background.

“Itang wawagayway yula reng diploma yu, malapakyak ku kasi diba atin na kayung papil. Pag maragul yi na, meyari kayung grade 10, kaysa kanita sasabyan da ala kong pegaralan,” Pineda said.

Aside from certificates, the provincial government also provided financial assistance and food packs to all ALS graduates, officials said.